Hay-tedder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. H. THOMAS.

HAY TBDDER.

Patented Sept. 2, 1884.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-:Sheet 2.

J.1H. THOMAS.

' HAY TEDDER. No. 304,374. Patented Sept.- 2, 1884 Inventor,-

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UNITE STATES PATENT mes.

JOHN H. THOMAS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

HAY-TEDDER.

GFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,374, datedSeptember 2, 1884.

Application filed September 12, 185.3.

section, of one of my improved tedder-teeth.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sufficient portion of a hay-tedder toillustrate my improvements therein. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of thelever and stops that regulate the cam-shaft. Fig. 6 is a plan view ofthe same. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a lever. Fig. 8 isa side elevation of another portion of said lever, and Fig. 9 is aperspective view of a .tedder-tooth.

In all of these figures letters of like character indicate correspondingparts.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully specified, and pointed out in the claims.

The crank-shaft a is provided with the pinions I),- that mesh into theinternal gear-wheels, c c, that are attached to the ground-wheels (Z (Zwhen the tedder is arranged for work. This crank-shaft is carried on aframe, Z, mounted upon the axle c, that is provided with the eccentrics,through whose agency the aforesaid pinions can be thrown into or out ofmesh with the wheels 0 c as the axle e is oscillated by the lever 2'.The eccentrics are rigidly secured to the axle, and work in bearings j,that are secured to the framing Z of the machine, to which thepinion-shaft a is also attached. Consequently, by moving the eccentrics,the pinions Z) and framing Z are moved bodily to or from the teeth ofgear-wheels c 0, thereby causing said pinions to engage with ordisengage from said wheels at the will of the operator. By use ofeccentrics for this purpose I am enabled to obtain an intermediatesupport for the frame upon the axle e, which makes the axle more rigidwhere the lever i is attached, thereby rendering said lever morepositive in its action. Each of the tedder- (No model.)

teeth, only one of which is shownfis constructed with a conveying-arm,m, having a bearing, a, that works on a journal-formed upon a crank, andthe tedder-teeth n a are formed of one piece of metal, and are journaledto the conveying-arnr m at the lower end thereof by means of bearingbrackets or straps m, that are provided with partial circumferentialprojecting pieces 1) 1 that serve as positive stops for the teeth n a torest against when they have been forced backward by the resistance ofany obstruction. By the use of these stops I am enabled to limit saidteeth to a movement independent of that imparted to them by thecarrying-arm m. Iani enabled to use a spring, q, almost straight in itsconfiguration, thereby dispensing with a hook at its end, which isliable to break and otherwise get deranged. The arms at are pro videdwith pins 1', securely fastened to them, over which the loops 8 s ofradius-rods ti pass. In the framing Z I securely fasten pins u a, overwhich pass loops 1) v of the aforesaid radius-rods. It will be observedthat I employ two radius-rods for each carrying-arm, and spread them tosuit the framing of the machine. By the use of two radius-rods, as abovedescribed, for each carrying-arm, I can keep the aforesaid arms in amore positive course of travel, and by inserting the pins a a in a rigidmanner into the framing Z, instead of permitting them to rock inperforations formed in said wood framing, and by the same constructionin relation to the pin 1', I am enabled to obviate speedy derangement ofthe parts caused by the wear due to the movement of the aforesaid pins.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings that there arelongitudinal frame timbers Z Z on each side of each crank of the shaftactuating the tedder-forks, and that said shaft has bearings on bothsides of each crank in said timbers, thereby giving greater steadinessof movement to the shaft, preventing its springing relatively to theaxle and insuring the even adjustment of the two ends of the shaft withthe frame in throwing said shaft into or out of gear.

The lever i is constructed of the parts i y, the part yrigidly securedto the axle, and hav ing teeth 2, and the part i loosely mounted on theaxle, and having the teeth 2'. The

part i has a slot, (1, through which a bolt, 0, passes to secure the twoparts together to any adjustment in the aforesaid slot. This adjustmentis desirable, in order that the eccentrics maybe set to suit the wheels0 c and'pinions 1) b when the machine is put together. The part i isalso provided with a perforation, 3/, into which the spring-bolt yenters when the eccentrics have been turned to throw the gearing intomesh, and into which the springbolt y enters when the eccentrics are setto throw said gearing out of mesh. The spring bolts y yare pressed orpulled back by hand or in any suitable manner to release or permit themovement by it of the lever 1'.

To hold the spring g from twisting out of place when only one bolt isused to secure it to the arm m, I use a plate, (1., provided with lugs aand (See Fig. 9.)

The drawings show in Figs. 1 and 2 an arrangement of eccentrics adaptedto be adjusted or rocked through one hundred and eighty degrees, while,as shown in Figs.4, 5, and 6, an adjustment of ninety degrees only isrequired. It will be apparent that either of these, or an adjustmentthrough any other suitable number of degrees, may be provided for.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. I11 ahay-tedder, the combination, with thethrough or common axle, ofeccentric j ournals mounted in bearings in the side bars ofthe frame,and an intermediate eccentric j ournal, also mounted in a bearing in theframe, for stitfening the axle and adapting it to be adj usted forthrowing the crank-shaft into or out of gear, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, in a hay-tedder, of the through or common axle,eccentric journals fast on said axle, and mounted in bearings at thesides of the frame, an intermediate eccentric journal, also fast on saidaxle, and a lever for rocking said eccentric journals and bearings 011the carryingarms m, in combi-- nation with stops 1;, formed on thebearingbrackets, for limiting the backward throw of the fork,substantially as described.

4. In a hay-tedder, the teeth a, pivoted in bearings on thecarrying-arms m, in combination with stops 1), formed on thebearingbrackets, for limiting the backward throw of the fork, and thespring 1 for retracting said teeth, all substantially as described.

5. In a hay-tedder, the combination of the frame 1, the carrying-arms m,provided with bearings n, springs q, straps m m, having stopsp 19,.teeth a n, and radius-rods t t, substantially as described.

6. In a hay-tedder, the carrying-arms m, provided with stops 1) 19,teeth n n, bearings n, springs q, held by plates, and suitableradius-rods, substantially as described.

7. In a hay-tedder, the eccentrics fast on the ,axle, in combinationwith an arm or lever rigidly secured to one of said eccentrics, and alever for rocking said eccentric, adj ustably connected with said arm,substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a hay-tedder, the axle provided with eccentrics adapted to berocked in bearings on the frame, in combination with an arm fast on oneof the eccentrics, an adjusting-lever adjustably secured to said arm,and means. substantially as described,. for holding said arm and leverat the desired adjustment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day ofSeptember, 1883.

JOHN H. THOMAS.

\Vitn esses:

HENRY l\;[ILL\VARD, CHASE STEWART.

